Avenue School gets tree funding

Children from the Avenue School attended the Town Development Committee meeting on 23rd March to update the Council on their plans to plant trees to represent the school’s house names. Ellie Morgan, Mollie Savea, Libby Leeson and Phoebe Craig explained how the school had come to the Council in March 2014 asking for help with funding to plant oak, sycamore, willow and birch trees within the community. The Council had agreed to match fund whatever the school were able to raise, up to the value of £500.
The school had managed to raise £200 for their project, and the children asked the Council to match this sum. They suggested the town park would be the ideal place to plant the trees, and they could be used as a meeting place for special occasions such as award ceremonies.
The children’s teacher, Ms Louise Kilminster, asked whether the Council would be able to help with the next steps for finding the most appropriate place to plant them.
Councillor Jamie Cullen said: “The Council will be delighted to honour its pledge to support the Avenue School in this project and will guide the school on where to plant and help obtain planning permission.” Councillor Davis felt that planting in the park was an excellent idea as some trees had been lost in the park, so this would aid with regeneration. Some trees could also be planted near the Avenue School.
Councillor Fraser congratulated the children on their fundraising efforts, and suggested that plaques should be placed by the trees to identify where they were from.
The Town Clerk was asked to submit the necessary paperwork to Wiltshire Council on behalf of the school.